transporting a saloon body not attached to the chassis

Richardson Masten · Joined: 01 Jan 1970 Posts: 49 Location: California, USA

Several years ago I removed the saloon body from my 4 1/4 chassis... big mistake! I have almost completed the installation of a roadster body on the chassis, but I have moved and need to move the saloon body to my new location, as I hope to reinstall the saloon body at some date in the future. What needs to be done to keep the saloon body from distorting whilst in transport?

Christopher Carnley · Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2017 9:13 am Post subject:

Is the Windovers saloon on B197KU wooden framed?

Say Hi! to "Big Sur".

Richardson Masten · Joined: 01 Jan 1970 Posts: 49 Location: California, USA

That is affirmative. The body is #6501. It is wood framed and aluminium skinned.

Christopher Carnley · Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2017 9:06 am Post subject:

OK.
Make sure that the doors and boot are secured in position, then make up a substantial frame to support the body on its mountings.
Or if you remove all the interior, the shell can be lifted onto a flat bed and the mountings packed up.
Be very careful how you strap it down.

Richardson Masten · Joined: 01 Jan 1970 Posts: 49 Location: California, USA

Here's where I am in this venture. More than 15 years ago, before I had eight strong men (more than necessary I have found) lift the body off the chassis, I had removed the doors, boot lid and all the interior, short of the headliner. The body is currently resting on a trailer with 2x4s under the three individual body mounts on each side forward of the rear wheel well. There are two additional body mounts on both sides inside the rear wheel wells. Currently the rear most is carrying the remaining load. It is my intention to support the forward-most rear mounts tomorrow so that all body mounting points are evenly supported. Last week I created a support across the front of the body where it attaches to the firewall and across the base as well. In doing this the entire front portion is secured together. What strikes me is that this is how the body rested on the chassis when they were all one, but is this adequate for transporting it?

Richardson Masten · Joined: 01 Jan 1970 Posts: 49 Location: California, USA

As mentioned the doors, windows and boot lid are apart. What about supporting it both from front to rear and side to side with straps? I'm thinking about from the top of the B pillar to the support on the opposite side at the body mount, then ratcheting the belts as equally as I carefully can. Were I to do this, should I also place a 2 x 4 across the top of the B pillar? And what about front to rear? I think that I can go from the corner of the back seat on either side to front body mount.

Christopher Carnley · Posted: Tue Mar 21, 2017 8:42 am Post subject:

I believe that the strapping should be done across the floor pans.

Richardson Masten · Joined: 01 Jan 1970 Posts: 49 Location: California, USA

Thanks. I have braced across the floor and secured all of the body mounts. I'm considering creating a brace across the B pillars with a 2x4 at the mid-height door hinge and straps from the hinge to the opposite body mounting below the floor.

Christopher Carnley · Posted: Wed Mar 22, 2017 8:51 am Post subject:

Sounds good to me.

Richardson Masten · Joined: 01 Jan 1970 Posts: 49 Location: California, USA

Sorry not to report on what happened. We were successsful in moving it 75 miles away and it has now been returned to its original chassis with no additional damage. Restoration to becoming an enjoyable car to drive continues.